Reciprocating lumber-mover for sawmills.



No. 690,679. Patented 'Jan. 7, I902.

E. E. THOMAS.

RECIPBOCA'TING LUMBER MOVER FOR SAWMILLS.

\Application filed Nov. 5, 1901-.)

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No. 690,679; Y Patented Jail. 7, I902.

E. E. THOMAS. BEGIPRDCATING LUMBER MOVEB F 0R SAWM|LLS.

(Application filed Nov. 5, 1901.1'

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(No Modeh) Hll l l Patented Jan. 7, i902. E. E. THOMAS. v BECIPBOCA-TINGLUMBER MOVEBFORSAWMILLS.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1001.)

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(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN E. THOMAS, OFST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO UNIONIRON-WORKS, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

RECIPROCATING LUMBER-MOVER FOR SAWMILLS SPECIFIGATION' forming part ofLetters Patent No. 690,679, dated January 7, 1902.

Application filed November 5, 1901- $erial No. 81,181- (No model.)

up very rapidly. This rapid sawing of the t3 logs necessitates a quickerremoval of the lumber as it falls on the return or backward movement ofthe carriage, and it has been found that the usual lumber moving orconveying means were inadequate or unsatisfacco tory for this purpose.

The primary object, therefore, of my inventionis to provide means formoving the lumber away as it falls from the carriage more rapidly' thanit can be. moved by the usual 95 means employed.

' A further object is to provide a lumbermoving apparatus which whileparticularly adapted for use with a double-cutting bands mill maybe usedwith those of the single-cutting type or with mills where a circular sawis employed. Other objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description.

The invention consists generally in provid- 3 ing reciprocatinglumber-moving means'located in the double-cutting mill between thelog-deck and saw, said means being normally at rest and adapted to bereleased by the ln mber as it falls from the'carriage.

Further,the invention consists in providing means for releasing theOperating means by hand. I

Further, the invention consists in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed Outin the claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a plan view of a double-cutting band-mill with my invention appliedthereto.

12 are slidable.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the linea.a of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line b b of Fig. 2. Fig.6 is asection on the line 0 c of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on the line dd ofFig.1. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the cross-head, showing the dog androll carried thereby. the cross-head dog.

In the drawings, 2 represents a double-cutting band-mill havinga saw 3and suitable upper and lower Wheels provided with shafts at and 5, thelatter having a driven pulley 6. This band-mill is of the ordinary orpreferred construction and is illustrated for the purpose of showing theapplication of'myinvention. 7 represents the log-deck skids, and 8 theguard between the deck and the bandsaw. The skids 7 project across thespace between the deck proper and the saw-mill carriage, which forclearness and convenience'of illustration I have'o'mitted from thedrawings. The skids 7 extend a sufficient dis Fig. 8 is a side view oftance above the top of'the lumber-moving means, hereinafter. to bedescribed, to permit the logs to be rolled directly thereover to thecarriage. Beneath the skids 7 I provide timbers 9, which extendsubstantially at right angles to the skids 7 and below the level of thesame. Upon thesetimbers I arrange guiderails 10, wherein the flanges llof a cross-head This cross-head on its under side is provided with a lug13, that is connected to a. piston-rod 14 of a steam-cylinder 15. Thiscylinder is supported upon suitable timbers l6 beneath the log-skids andhas a valve 17.- Upon the forward end of the-cross head I providestandards 18, connected by a rod 19, whereon an idle roll 20 is mounted.The opposite end of the cross-head has stand ards 21, connected by a rod22, whereon a dog 23 is pivoted. This dog on one side of itspivothasanupwardly-turned lip or flange 24, provided with a series ofteeth 25, and'orrthe opposite side of the pivot is weightedto cause thepart 24. to stand normally in an upright 5 position, as shown in Figs. 6and 7. The teeth 25 when in their normalposition project above the topof the roll 20, so that the lumber falling upon said roll will beengaged firmly by the teeth ofthe dog.

IOO

Upon the band-mill base upon one side of the saw is an idle roll 26 andon the other side of the saw a spiked roll 27, operated from a suitabledriving mechanism 28. Upon the timbers 0, near the idle-roll 26, Iprovide a cross-timber 29, carrying guides 30 for a vertically-slidableframe 31, which at its upper end carries a roll 32 upon a rod 33. Thelower end of the frame 31 is secured in the forked end of a lever 34 bymeans of a pivotpin 35. This lever is centrally pivoted on a timber 36and is provided with an adjustable weight 37. An arm 38 on said lever isconnected with a cylinder-valve 17 by a rod 39,

so that oscillation of said lever will open and close the valve. Theroll 32, as indicated in Fig. 2, normally projects above the level ofthe roll 20 and the dog-teeth 25 and will be first engaged by the lumberas it falls from the carriage. The Weight of the lumber falling uponsaid roll 32 will cause a depression of the frame 31, rock the lever 34,open the valve, and admit steam to the cylinder. By the time the framehas been depressed sufficiently to bring the lumber into engagement withthe teeth of the dog steam will have been admitted to the cylinder, andthe lumber will be moved rapidly toward the band-saw driven by the teethof the dog in engagement with the under side thereof. The lumber willslide over the idle rolls, pass between the band-wheel onto the spikedlive roll, and upon being engaged thereby will be driven forward tomingle with the lumber that is cut on the forward movement of thecarriage. The weighted side of the dog will hold its teeth in properposition to engage the lumber, and as soon as the lumber is engaged bythe spiked roll and drawn forward the dog will tilt forward and allowthe lumber to slide olf its teeth. Backward tilting, however, of saiddog during the forward movement of the cross-head is prevented byengagement of the dog with the frame of the head, as shown in Fig. 6.

The speed of the cross-head, and consequently the movement of thelumber, may be regulated byincreasing or decreasing the-supply of steamto the cylinder, a suitable valve being arranged in the supply-pipe forthat purpose. If large logs are being sawed, the operator may adjust thelumber moving mechanism to operate less rapidly than when small logs arepassing through the mill.

It sometimes happens that the operator desires to depress the roll 32 byhand, and with this end in view I provide a rock-shaft 40, supported,preferably, on the under side of the timber 36 and provided with an arm41, connected by means of a slotted link 42 with the pin 35. During theautomatic operation of the mechanism the pin slides in said slot and therock-shaft remains stationary. The shaft is also provided with an arm43, carrying an adjustable weight 44, with a depending. arm 45, that isconnected by a link 46 with an arm 47 on a rock-shaft 48. Anoperating-lever 49 is secured upon said shaft and normally engages anotch in a stud or projection 50. By springing said lever slightly itmay be disengaged from said notch and then oscillated to depress theroller 32 and admit steam to the cylinder to actuatethe cross-head.

In operation the lumber as it falls from the carriage on its return orbackward movement will strikethe roll 32, depressing the same, and willengage the toothed dog 24. The depression of said roll 32 will admitsteam to the cylinder, and the cross-head will immediately be driventoward the band-saw, carrying the lumber with it to the positionindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. By the time the cross head reachesthe end of its stroke toward the saw the lumber will have engaged thespiked roll and, driven by said roll, will continue to move away fromthe baud-mill. As soon as the lumber passes off the roll 32 the weight37 will return said roll to its normal position, admitting steam to thecylinder to return the cross-head to its normal position.

Whenever desired, the operator may admit steam to the cylinder andactuate the crosshead by means of the lever 49 and its connections withthe valve-operating mechanism. I have shown this lumber-moving apparatusin connection with a double-cutting band-saw mill, but obviously thesame may be used to advantage with those of a single-cutting type orwith circular-saw mills.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a reciprocatinglumber-moving means and means for operating the same, of idlerolls orsupports whereon the lumber falls, and means operated by the descent ofthe lumber toward said rolls for releasing said operating means.

2. The combination, with a reciprocating cross-head provided with alumber-engaging dog, of means for operating said head, rolls or supportswhereou the lumber falls, and means operated by the descent of thelumber for releasing said operating means.

3. The combination, with a band-mill, of reciprocatinglumber-movingmeans and means for operating the same, idle rolls whereon the lumberfalls, and means operated by the descent of the lumber toward said rollsfor releasing said operating means.

4. The combination, with a band-mill, of a reciprocating cross-head andmeans for operating the same, a lumber-engaging dog provided on saidhead, idle rolls, and means de= pressed by the weight of the lumberfalling on said rolls for releasing said operating means.

5. The combination, with a double-cutting band-mill and the log-deck, ofa reciprocating cross-head arranged between said mill and deck, meansfor operating said head, a lumber-engaging dog provided on said head,idle rolls, and means operated by the lumber falling upon said rolls forreleasing said operating means.

(i. The combination, with a double-cutting band-mill, of a reciprocatingcrosshead located between the mill and log-deck, means adapted to bedepressed by the weight of the for operating said head, alumber-engaging dog provided on said head and having a series of teeth,idle rolls below the level of said teeth, and means depressed by theweight of the lumber falling on said rolls for releasing said operatingmeans.

7. The combination ,With reciprocating 1n mber-moving means and meansfor operating.

the same, of idle rolls, and a vertically-movable roll depressed by theweight of the lumber falling thereon for releasing said operating,means.

8. The combination, with a double-cutting band-mill, of reciprocatinglumber-moving means located between said mill and the logdeck, a motorfor operating said lumbermoving means, idle rolls whereon thelumberfalls that is out on the return or backward movement of the carriage, avertically-movable roll projecting above the level of said idle rolls.and adapted to be depressed by the weight of the lumber falling thereon,and operative connections provided between said vertically-movable rolland said motor.

9. The combination, with a double-cutting band-mill, of a reciprocatingcross-head located between said mill and the lo -deck, a motorforoperating said head, a lumber-engaging dog and an idle roll provided onsaid head, said dog normally projecting above the level of said roll,vertically-movable means lumber falling fromthe carriage on its returnor backward movement, and operative connections provided between saidverticallymovable means and said motor. 1

10. The combination, with a double-cutting band-mill, ofreciprocatinglumber-moving means provided between said mill and thelog-deck, a cylinder having its piston connected with said lumber-movingmeans, idle rolls whereon the lumber'falls on the return or backwardmovement of the carriage, a vertically-movable frame, a rollcarried-thereby and normally projecting above the level of said idlerolls, and operative connections provided between said frame and saidcylindervalve, substantiallyas described.

'11. The combination, with reciprocating lumber-moving means and meansfor operating the same, of idle rolls whereon the lumber falls, meansnormally projecting above said rolls and actuated by the falling lumber,to automatically release said operating means, and means within controlof the operator for releasing said operating means byhand.

12. The combination, witha double-cutting band-mill, of reciprocatinglumber-moving means located between the mill and log-deck, a motor foroperating said reciprocating means, idle rolls whereon the lumber fallson the return or backward movement of the lumber, the vertically-movableframe, a roll carried thereby-and normally projecting above the level ofsaid idle rolls, operative connections provided between said frame, amotor, and means within the control of the operator for depressing saidframe by hand, substan tially as described.

13. The combination, with a double-cutting band-mill provided with aspiked live roll, of reciprocatinglumber-moving means provided betweensaid mill and the log-deck, a motor for operating said reciprocatingmeans, idle rolls whereon the lumber falls on the return or backwardmovement of the carriage, a vertically movable roll normally projectingabove the level of said idleand spiked rolls and adapted to be depressedby the weight of the lumber falling thereon, and operative connectionsprovided between said verticallymovable roll and said motor.

14. In a double-cutting band-mill, a lumber-moving device arrangedbetween the saw and the log deck and whereon the lumber falls that iscut on the return or backward movement of the carriage, means foroperating said lumber-moving device, andme'ans actuated by the fallinglumber for releasing said operating means.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of November,1901.

EDWIN E. THOMAS. In presence of= RICHARD PAUL, M. Q'NOONAN.

